Paint can holder for step ladder



Nov. 15, 1966 E. REDA 3,285,557

PAINT CAN HOLDER FOR STEP LADDER Filed Jan. 4, 1965 Hal.

ATTORNAY United States Patent Oflflce 3,285,557 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 3,285,557 PAINT CAN HOLDER FOR STEP LADDER Ernie Reda, 550 Troy Drive, San Jose, Calif. Filed Jan. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 423,119 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-210) The present invention relates to a paint can holder, and pertains more particularly to such a holder for mounting on the top step of a step ladder to retain a gallon paint can supported on the folding shelf of such ladder.

In painting buildings, particularly the interior of buildings by professional painters, a great deal of the work is done on step ladders. In the past numerous devices have been developed for supporting a paint can for convenient use by a painter in doing such work, but while most of these prior devices have been satisfactory in some respects, most of them have not been capable of satisfactorily supporting a gallon can of paint in a manner which would position the can conveniently to a painters use while working on the ladder, and which would also permit moving the ladder about without danger of having the can fall off or of spilling the paint.

The present invention provides an improved paint can holder of suitable sheet like material having a flat portion shaped to rest on the top step of a step ladder, and with a downwardly and reversely bent clip portion to extend around the forward edge of such step to retain the holder in position on the ladder. A vertical portion is bent to extend downwardly from the rearward edge of this top flat portion to a height somewhat less than the height of a usual gallon paint can above the folding shelf conventionally provided on most step ladders. A rearwardly extending portion is provided at the lower end of this .upright portion, said rearwardly extending portion having a hole therein of a size to receive a gallon paint can therein. An upwardly extending flange is provided around this hole to retain any paint which may be spilled over the top of a can whilepositioned therein. Vertical side portions are provided to brace the rearwardly extending portion and also to retain any paint which may be spilled from a can mounted in the holder.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved paint can holder for a step ladder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paint can holder for use on a painters step ladder to have clip engagement with the top step of a step ladder, and having a portion thereof with an opening therein to receive a gallon can of paint overlying in upwardly spaced relation the usual folding paint can support of a painters step ladder to retain a paint can inserted in such opening, and to catch any paint which may be spilled over the top of the can.

The foregoing objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a paint can holder embodying the invention as it appears when mounted on a step ladder with a gallon can of paint mounted thereon, portions of the legs of the step ladder being broken away.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1, portions being broken away.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the paint can holder shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawings, a paint can holder A embodying the invention is clipped onto the top step 11) of a conventional step ladder B, with a usual gallon paint can C inserted in a hole 12 provided therefor in the holder A, and resting upon the usual folding shelf 13 of the step ladder. Since the step ladder B is of a conventional type it will be described only briefly herein. In addition to the usual top step which is fixedly secured on top of a pair of side blocks 14 and 15, it has a pair of side rails 17 and 18 fixedly secured to the blocks 14 and 15, respectively. A plurality of steps 19 are fixedly secured to extend between the side rails 17 and 18, and are mortised therein and secured fixedly thereto by through-bolts 20. A pair of conventional folding rear legs 21 and 22 are pivotally connected by bolts 23 to the rearward portions of the top blocks 14 and 15, respectively, and are locked in open position by a pair of pivotally interconnected locking links 24 and 25. When the links 24 and 25 are folded upwardly at their centers in a well known manner they swing the rear legs 21 and, 22 forwardly closely adjacent the forward rails 17 and 18 for folding the ladder.

The usual paint can supporting shalf 13'consists of a pair of side strips 27 and 28 pivotally connected by rivets 29 to the rear ladder legs 21 and 22, respectively. These side strips are of a length to extend beneath, and to engage, the under side of the topmost mortised ladder step 19 so as to support the strips against clockwise rotative movement in their operative position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A plurality of transverse slats 30 are secured to the tops of the side strips 27 and 28, and extend therebetween to support the paint can 11 or other objects thereon.

The illustrative paint can holder A is constructed principally of sheet metal of suitable weight and stiffness, for example, 24 gauge sheet steel. A fiat top portion 31 is of a width corresponding substantially to that of the top step 10 of a step ladder upon which the holder A is to be mounted. A downwardly bent front flange 32 is provided at the forward edge of the fiat top portion 31, with a reversely or rearwardly bent flange 33 at its lower end to extend beneath and grip the forward portion of the top step 10 as shown in FIG. 2.

A pair of reinforcing side bands 34 and 35, which preferably are of strap metal of suitable thickness, for example, A thick band steel, are provided one along each lateral edge of the top, front and reversely bent flange portions 31, 32 and 33 the reinforcing bands being secured to the sheet metal portions which they overlie by suitable fastening means, such as, for example, rivets 37.

From the rear edge of the top portion 31 an upright portion 38 is bent downwardly, and is of a height to bring its lower edge 39 above the ladder shelf 13 a distance somewhat less than the height of a gallon paint can C for which the holder A is intended. Bent to extend rearwardly from the lower end of the upright portion 38 is a flat portion 40 which is substantially parallel to the top portion 31. This flat, rearwardly extending portion 40 is of a depth from front to rear, and also of a width, preferably a few inches greater than the diameter of a paint can C to be supported in the hole 12 therein.

The can receiving hole 12 is provided substantially centrally of the rearwardly extending portion 40, and an upwardly extending marginal flange 42 is provided around this hole 40, preferably integral with the transverse portion 40. An upwardly extending rear flange 43 is bent upwardly from the rear edge of the rearwardly extending portion 40, the upper edge of this rear flange 43 being bent forwardly at 44 to reinforce the upper edge of the flange 43.

Vertical side walls 47 and 48 are provided, these walls extending from the side edges of the vertical portion 31 to the side edges of the rear flange 43, and being seamed or otherwise firmly interconnected at their lines of intersection with the vertical portion 31, the rearwardly extending portion 40, and the upwardly extending rear flange 43 to provide liquid tight interconnection therewith. The means for interconnecting the various portions of the paint can holder A may be by conventional seams or other suitable means well known to those conversant with the fabrication of sheet metal or other material of which the paint can holder A may be made. For example, it is contemplated that the holder A may be molded or otherwise fabricated of plastic material to provide an inexpensive paint can holder which can be used by amateur painters, or which can be furnished free, or at low cost, as an advertising item by manufacturers of paint or painters supplies.

In using the paint can holder A, the latter is mounted on a ladder B by first tilting the holder forwardly, or in a counter clockwise direction from its position illustrated in FIG. 2 and hooking the reversely bent flange 33 beneath the forward edge of the top step of a painters ladder B upon which the holder is to be mounted. The holder A is then swung in a clockwise direction until it is arrested by engagement of the top portion 31 with the top of the step 10 in its position of FIG. 2.

When the ladder B with the holder A thus mounted thereon has been set up for use a usual gallon paint can C may be introduced through the hole 12 and allowed to rest on the folding shelf 13 of the ladder B, where upon it is then ready for use. The ladder B with the holder A and paint can C thereon as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be easily picked up and carried about from place to place on a job, and by keeping the can in a substantially upright position, very little if any spillage will occur.

In the event that some slight spillage does occur, most of such spillage will be caught by the transverse portion 40 and retained thereon by the annular flange 42 and the other structure enclosing the portion 40, and can be easily mopped up and thus prevented from getting on the floor. In the case of any spillage, the paint can will usually be tilted toward the annular flange 42 and will therefore be moved by gravity toward the flange so that very little if any paint will escape down the gap between the can and this flange.

The invention provides a simple, sturdy, easily mounted and secure holder for mounting gallon paint cans on the folding shelf of a painters step ladder. The holders are easy and inexpensive to manufacture, readily transported from job to job, and securely retain a paint can on a ladder. They also permit moving the ladder from place to place on a job with the paint can thereon, and reduce the probability of spillage.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood, however, that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is defined in the following claims:

1. A holder for a paint can of known diameter and height for mounting on a step ladder having a top step and having also a foldable rear support shelf spaced downwardly a known distance from the top step; said holder comprising a top portion of a width to span the top step of such ladder,

hook means formed on the forward edge of the top portion for hooked engagement with the forward edge of the top ladder step,

an upright portion extending downwardly from the rear edge of the top portion and terminating at a height above the shelf less than the height of such can when the latter is supported on the ladder shelf,

a flat, horizontal portion of sheet material connected to the lower edge of the upright portion and extending rearwardly therefrom, said rearwardly extending portion having a can-receiving hole therein slightly larger than, and of the same general shape as, the cross sectional configuration of such can,

first upwardly extending paint retaining means marginally surrounding the opening in the flat horizontal portion, and

second upwardly extending paint retaining means marginally surrounding the flat horizontal portion itself.

2. A holder for a paint can of known diameter and height for mounting on a step ladder having a top step and having also a foldable rear support shelf spaced downwardly a known distance from the top step; said holder comprising a flat top portion of sheet material of a size to overlie and span the width of the top step of such ladder,

hook means formed on the forward edge of the top portion for hooked engagement with the forward edge of the top ladder step,

an upright portion extending downwardly from the rear edge of the top portion and terminating at a height above the shelf less than the height of such can when the latter is supported on the ladder shelf,

a flat, horizontal portion of sheet material connected in sealed relation to the lower edge of the upright portion and extending rearwardly therefrom, said rearwardly extending portion having a can-receiving hole therein slightly larger than, and of the same general shape as, the cross sectional configuration of such can,

an upwardly extending rim surrounding the opening in the rearwardly extending portion,

an upwardly extending flange along the rear edge of the rearwardly extending portion, and in sealed relation therewith, and

a pair of side plates connected in sealed relation to the upright portion, the rearwardly extending portion, and the upwardly bent rear flange, so that spillage from such can supported on the shelf and inserted within the opening in the rearwardly extending portion will be caught and retained on the rearwardly extending portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,858,656 5/1932 Batherman 248210 3,052,442 9/ 1962 Rankin 248-210 FOREIGN PATENTS 197,158 5/1923 Great Britain.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HOLDER FOR A PAINT CAN OF KNOWN DIAMETER AND HEIGHT FOR MOUNTING ON A STEP LADDER HAVING A TOP STEP AND HAVING ALSO A FOLDABLE REAR SUPPORT SPACED DOWNWARDLY A KNOWN DISTANCE FROM THE TOP STEP; SAID HOLDER COMPRISING A TOP PORTION OF A WIDTH TO SPAN THE TOP STEP OF SUCH LADDER, HOOK MEANS FORMED ON THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE TOP PORTION FOR HOOKED ENGAGEMENT WIH THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE TOP LADDER STEP, AN UPRIGHT PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE REAR EDGE OF THE TOP PORTION AND TERMINATING AT A HEIGHT ABOVE THE SHAFT LESS THAN THE HEIGHT OF SUCH CAN WHEN THE LATTER IS SUPPORTED ON THE LATTDER SHAFT, A FLAT, HORIZONTAL PORTION OF SHEET MATERIAL CONNECTED TO THE LOWER EDGE OF THE UPRIGHT PORTION AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID REARWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION HAVING A CAN-RECEIVING HOLE THEREIN SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN, AND OF THE SAME GENERAL SHAPE AS, THE CROSS SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION OF SUCH CAN, FIRST UPWARDLY EXTENDING PAINT RETAINING MEANS MARGINALLY SURROUNDING THE OPENING IN THE FLAT HORIZONTAL PORTION, AND SECOND UPWARDLY EXTENDING PAINT RETAINING MEANS MARGINALLY SURROUNDING THE FLAT HORIZONTAL PORTION ITSELF. 